With a heightened interest in all things mystical, we thought it would be fun to explore which U.S. cities are the most welcoming for witches, those who practice Paganism, and anyone who embraces the supernatural. Whether you’re drawn to spellcasting, perusing metaphysical shops, or simply enjoy living in a place with a thriving witchcraft community, certain cities offer an extra touch of magic that makes them perfect for practicing witchcraft.
At BetMGM, we’re all about blending entertainment with the thrill of the unknown, and this study taps into that same fascination. We examined 13 unique factors to rank the best cities for witches. These factors range from lighthearted factors that appeal to the fantasy lore of witches (the number of broom shops) to more spiritual aspects (the percentage of residents self-identifying as Wiccan or Pagan). Read on to reveal which U.S. cities are the most witch-friendly.
What Makes a City Perfect for Witches?
Whether you’re a practicing witch, a follower of the traditions of Paganism, or simply captivated by the mystical, you might wonder what makes a city ideal for witches. From coven gatherings to spellcasting supplies, witches need more than just cauldrons to thrive. To find out, we dove deep into the factors that matter most to witches.
For each city, we analyzed the availability of psychics and mediums who could help witches tap into spiritual realms. We also counted the metaphysical supply stores for potion ingredients and crystals. Then, we looked at the presence of astrology groups and Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans chapters in each city, and the state’s population self-identifying their religious beliefs as Wiccan or Pagan to measure community connection.
For a touch of fantasy, we looked at the number of cemeteries, cottages, and haunted attractions, as well as stores that sell brooms — a witch’s ultimate ride, of course. But we didn’t stop there; we also measured search interest in witchy pop culture phenomena like “Hocus Pocus,” “Harry Potter,” “Wicked,” and “American Horror Story: Coven.”
With these factors in mind, we brewed up the ultimate list of cities where witches can truly thrive, offering both the tools of the craft and the community to support it. So, what cities have the right mix of magical ingredients for a witch to call home?
The 10 Best U.S. Cities for Witches
- Poughkeepsie, NY
- Poughkeepsie ranks first with a score of 62.6. The city is home to an astounding 72.51 cemeteries per 10k residents (well above the national average of 1.99), making it a perfect place for witches seeking sacred spaces. With a Unitarian Universalist Pagan chapter and plenty of broom shops (2.85 per 100k), Poughkeepsie fully embraces its mystical side.
- Sarasota, FL
- Sarasota takes second with a score of 57.3. The city has a thriving spiritual community, with 14.54 astrology groups per 100k (compared to 2.75 nationally) and 6.51 psychics and mediums per 100k. Additionally, its high number of cottages (31.29 per 100k) makes it ideal for those seeking a secluded, witchy lifestyle.
- Charleston, SC
- Charleston scores 54.5, thanks to its rich history and eerie attractions. The city boasts 5.84 haunted attractions per 100k and 88.29 cemeteries per 100k, making it a top destination for those interested in the supernatural. It also offers plenty of cottages (22.02 per 100k).
- Greenville, SC
- Greenville comes in at 51.4. With 1.06 metaphysical shops per 100k (double the national average), it’s a hub for spiritual supplies. The city also features a high number of cemeteries (133.53 per 10k), astrology groups (14.36 per 100k), and haunted attractions (7.18 per 100k), making it an ideal witchy destination.
- Colorado Springs, CO
- With a score of 47.7, Colorado Springs is a great spot for witches to find spiritual community, considering that 1% of the state’s population self-identifies as Wiccan or Pagan (tied for the second-highest population percentage in the country). The city also has a notable presence of metaphysical shops (1.05 per 100k) and cottages (17.57 per 100k).
For a deeper dive into where each city stands, here’s the full ranking of the top places to be a witch:
Top Cities for Every Witchy Essential, From Broom Shops to Haunted Attractions
Some cities excel in specific factors that make them ideal for witches. These cities rank highest in the categories we analyzed:
- Metaphysical Shops: Dayton, Ohio has 1.35 metaphysical shops per 100k people, compared to the national average of 0.49.
- Psychics and Mediums: Bridgeport, Connecticut has 14.80 psychics and mediums per 100k, while the national average is 3.41.
- Cottages: Lakeland, Florida has 46.98 cottages per 100k people, much higher than the national average of 5.52.
- Broom Shops: Los Angeles, California has 6.01 broom shops per 100k people, compared to the average of 1.69.
- Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Chapters: Poughkeepsie, New York, New Haven, Connecticut, and Rochester, New York each have one active CUUPs chapter, while most cities have none.
- Cemeteries: Columbia, South Carolina has 13.58 cemeteries per 10k people, compared to the national average of 1.99.
- Astrology Groups: Sarasota, Florida has 14.54 astrology groups per 100k people, compared to the national average of 2.75.
- Haunted Attractions: New Orleans, Louisiana has 12.64 haunted attractions per 100k people, while the national average is 1.19.
- Search Interest for “Hocus Pocus”: Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts have a search interest score of 90 out of 100, compared to the national average of 53.92.
- Search Interest for “Harry Potter”: Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo, Utah all have the maximum search interest score of 100 out of 100 for “Harry Potter,” compared to the national average of 52.28.
- Search Interest for “Wicked”: Detroit, Michigan has a search interest score of 100 out of 100 for “Wicked,” compared to the national average of 47.60.
- Search Interest for “American Horror Story: Coven”: New Orleans, Louisiana has the maximum search interest score of 100 out of 100 for “American Horror Story: Coven,” compared to the national average of 14.84.
- Percentage of State Population Self-Identifying as Wiccan or Pagan: Nevada has 2% of its population self-identifying as Wiccan or Pagan, while most states have less than 1%.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re interested in finding metaphysical shops, haunted attractions, or a thriving witch community, these cities offer the most favorable conditions for witches to call home.
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Methodology
To determine the best cities in the U.S. for witches to call home, we started with a list of the 100 most populous cities. We then identified 13 factors relevant to a witch’s lifestyle, including factors such as access to metaphysical shops, the number of Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans chapters, and the percentage of the state population self-identifying as Wiccan or Pagan.
We assigned each city a score from 0 to 5 for each factor, with a score of 5 representing the most favorable conditions for practicing witchcraft. Each city’s total score was calculated by summing its individual factor scores, which were weighted based on their relevance to witches and those who practice Paganism. The final score, ranging from 0 to 100, reflects how suitable each city is for witches to thrive. Higher scores indicate cities that offer more witch-friendly environments.
Number of Metaphysical Supply Stores*
- Weight: 2.50
- Source: Yelp.com
Number of Psychics and Mediums*
- Weight: 2.50
- Source: Yelp.com
Number of Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Chapters
- Weight: +5 points
- Source: Cuups.org
Number of Cemeteries**
- Weight: 2.50
- Source: findagrave.com
Number of Astrology Groups*
- Weight: 2.50
- Source: meetup.com
Number of Cottages*
- Weight: 2.00
- Source: airbnb.com
Number of Broom Shops*
- Weight: 2.50
- Source: census.gov
Number of Haunted Attractions*
- Weight: 1.50
- Source: frightfind.com
Search Interest for “Hocus Pocus”
- Weight: 0.50
- Source: trends.google.com
Search Interest for “Harry Potter”
- Weight: 0.50
- Source: trends.google.com
Search Interest for “Wicked”
- Weight: 0.50
- Source: trends.google.com
Search Interest for “American Horror Story: Coven”
- Weight: 0.50
- Source: trends.google.com
Percentage of State Population Self-Identifying as Wiccan or Pagan
- Weight: 2.00
- Source: pewresearch.org
*per 100k people
**per 10k people
